• miR-32-5p is significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its overexpression suppresses HCC cell proliferation and migration.
• GSK3β is identified as a direct target of miR-32-5p, and its expression is negatively correlated with miR-32-5p in HCC specimens; high GSK3β correlates with poor patient survival.
• miR-32-5p exerts its tumor-suppressive effects by modulating the GSK3β/NF-κB signaling pathway, providing a novel mechanistic insight into HCC pathogenesis.
• The miR-32-5p/GSK3β/NF-κB axis represents a promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC intervention.